Frequently Asked Questions about
Homelessness
Homelessness is a very complex problem, and Astoria is one
of many cities in the country struggling to find successful ways of addressing
the problem. Many of the homeless people on the streets struggle with issues
related to addiction, mental illness, and histories of trauma. The Astoria Police
Department takes a holistic approach to homelessness issues. It expects all
officers to build relationships with this segment of the community and help
guide them to available resources. They work closely with Clatsop Behavioral
Health and Clatsop Community Action and have a high success rate with homeless
individuals who want help getting off the street. They also work closely with
other City departments. The Parks and
Recreation Department has employees dedicated to cleaning up garbage and
maintaining public spaces throughout the city.
Public Works assists with larger camp clean-ups and maintains
infrastructure such as fencing and signage.
How can you report homeless
issues?
Livability@astoria.gov—This
email was explicitly created for citizens to report homelessness or other
quality-of-life issues using non-emergency communications. All park maintenance
employees, police supervisors, Chief Kelly, and Director Dart-McLean receive
this email.
503-325-4411—This is the Astoria Police Department's
non-emergency number, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can be
used to report criminal activity in which the suspect has left the area or
lower-level incidents, such as intoxicated persons who are not disorderly or
trespassers.
911 - 911 is for emergencies: A threat to
life, serious injury, fire, or to stop a crime in progress. 911 is to be used
when you or someone else needs immediate assistance.
What should I do if I see
someone illegally camping in the city?
The city appreciates public reporting. Please email the
livability team at Livability@astrioa.gov
or report it to the Astoria Police Department non-emergency line at 503-325-4411.
By providing an accurate location and description of the
camp, you will assist the responding officers in locating and contacting the
camp occupants. Once the camp is located and the occupants have been approached,
the next steps depend on many factors. The responding officers will work
closely with the many resources available to determine the best course of
action regarding the removal of the camp.
Parks and Recreation will also respond to remove garbage or any
abandoned property.
NOTE: Please be patient when reporting the camps. Our
departments work with limited resources and must sometimes triage calls, which can
lead to delayed responses. Rest assured, your calls are important to us, and we
will get to them as soon as possible.
A
homeless person has set up a tent near my business; what can I do?
You can proactively keep trespassers off your property by joining
property watch and posting signs. If someone is camping within ten feet of your
door, setting up camp somewhere that does not allow six feet of clearance on
the sidewalk, or camping outside the permitted hours, you have the right to ask
the individual to leave or contact the Astoria Police non-emergency number at 503-325-4411
or Livability@astoria.gov.
Why can't the city move
people off the streets?
It is not illegal to be homeless, and the city cannot force
someone to move due to constitutional protections and court rulings. However, APD
has the authority to issue citations or arrest people engaged in criminal
behavior. For example, possession of an open container of alcohol or drinking
in public, smoking narcotics in public, public urination or defecation, trespassing,
and disorderly conduct are considered prohibited or illegal. If you observe
these or other illegal behaviors, please call the Astoria Police non-emergency
line at 503-325-4411 or 911.
NOTE: Violations of the City’s Camping Ordinance are
currently a summonable offense, which means that our officers' only option is
to issue a citation; they cannot be arrested.
What should I do if I see
garbage left in public spaces or notice a public trash can overflowing?
Email Livability@astrioa.gov,
and one of our dedicated parks employees will address it as soon as possible.
What resources are
available to the homeless in our city?
Clatsop
Behavioral Health (CBH)
115 W. Bond
Street, Astoria
503-325-5722
·
Mobile response team
·
Transitional housing
·
Intake and treatment services
Clatsop
Community Action (CCA)
364 9th Street,
Astoria
503-325-1400
·
Mobile peer support team to connect individuals
to services
·
Low barrier shelter
·
Transitional housing
·
Veterans housing assistance
Lifeboat Services/ Filling Empty Bellies
1040 Commercial Street, Astoria
503-741-3572
·
Low barrier shelter
·
Meals, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.
·
Advocacy and peer support
·
Restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities
Helping
Hands Re-entry Outreach Centers
Astoria (call
for directions)
503-739-4347
·
Low barrier shelter
·
Transitional housing
